There must have been vexed disappointment felt on both sides of the political arena late last year when Health Minister Peter Dutton conceded both medical practitioners and their senior patients were either disinterested or weary, and it was "struggling".

This was despite the high expectations held for the $1 billion system that many thought had the potential to completely revolutionise healthcare in Australia.

Set up by the Labor government in 2011, Personally Controlled E-Health Records' (PCEHR) purpose was to improve patient care by allowing healthcare providers and practitioners to access and share patient information seamlessly on one commonly-used system. A patient's eHealth record contains information such as when healthcare was received, hospital stays, details of GP visits, and medical test results.

High-hopes were pinned on its future popularity with former Health Minister Tanya Plibersek saying the government was predicting an estimated half a million users by mid-2013. Plibersek asserted the PCEHR "will mean easier and faster access to patient information" and called upon doctors to make a concerted effort and adopt the system unanimously.

The numbers don't add up

However less than three years later, instead of the predicted boom in user numbers of doctors and aged care patients alike, it seems this promising initiative may have actually swollen to the size of a great big white elephant.

Only a scant number of doctors had added a Shared Health Summary (the critical step in the setup process), and only a fraction of Australians had signed up and established their record, the government admitted in a statement.

The low figures were not conducive to a national, electronic system whose very purpose was to "help save lives", the government asserted, and announced a review to hopefully make the system more fit for purpose and cost effective.

But is it fair to say the PCEHR has become a colossal sinking ship, or perhaps even more relevant – despite the hype and the government's high hopes – had it coming all along?

Ignorance not so blissful

Not altogether so, but part of the problem is there's a lack of awareness among seniors about its potential benefits and an unwillingness to embrace digital technology, according to National Seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill.

"Many older people, particularly those in their 70s and 80s, have grown up without computers and have little interest – or confidence – in learning to use such technology," he told IndustrySearch.

"Those who don't trust technology are unlikely to want a personally-controlled electronic health record, instead are more likely to rely on their health professional to look after them. The system needs to be better sold to consumers."

While better education among seniors may be the key to its success in the near future, the system should in theory not only be of benefit to aged care patients, it should be regarded as a necessity, according to Santo Gazzo, general manager of Advantech Australia, a company specialising in cutting-edge information technology for the healthcare sector.

"The question that should be asked is: how well have the benefits and virtues of eHealth records been promoted to the public and the medical profession?" Gazzo said.

"eHealth records can benefit older Australians as it provides safer, quicker and more efficient care – in particular where emergency care is required or where access to historical data can be the difference between life or death.

"One of the difficulties in providing safe, quality care is the quick availability of accurate medical records, including past medical history and current medication.

He added the benefits of a electronic records system used by all could even open the door to more seamless communication through portable IT devices used by healthcare professionals.

"Mobility devices such as tablets and PC pocket pads can be used by GPs or nurses to quickly access patient data. A combination of these two technologies could be used when a specialist conducts a home-care or aged-care home visit," Gazzo said.

"When an aged care person is being assessed by different medical professionals such as in an emergency ward, or by a specialist or GP such information is vital.

"The introduction of eHealth records would provide not only greater efficiencies to the industry but also safe, quality care for the elderly."

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William Boyd | Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 8:34 PM

As a Senior Specialist Clinician of over 36 years experience in direct daily patient contact I can see that instant access to every iota of a patient's record might have some uses at times but overall I think the potential benefits are far outweighed by the massive administrative machinery which has gone into the current model of eHealth. What could have been made simple, streamlined and useful has been grossly over-stated by administrative empire-builders who have made careers for themselves at taxpayers expense. The notion that all Medical Practitioners have a burning need for a blow by blow medical history is facile. Mostly I just need to know where the pain is, that the appendix has gone, what the scan report says and is she on any of a small group of important drugs e.g warfarin. It is seldom that this information cannot be gleaned in a few minutes with a good referral letter and a basic history. The small percentage of clinical events which might benefit from eHealth does not justify the industry which has been concocted to deliver it and which so far has failed.
William Boyd FRANZCOG
Mackay
Queensland

Lamorna Osborne | Friday, March 21, 2014, 8:02 PM

Bill Boyd was right BUT the bureaucracy involved in the pilots and follow up didn't make it that easy to integrate MDir ..used by 85% of GP's when they first started eHealth, now less with BP . but we all have to realise that progress is slow with big organisations. The initial pilots were painful toGPs. I reckon we would save 60-70% of the pathology budget alone if thats where we really started. I'm sick of duplication of pathology tests when I make the effort to send copies to a variety of specialists .up to 25 in one case .. even though pathology companies are great and will send copies to specialist at no additional cost to Medicare , that maybe would be a smart starting point... measurable , easier to bring in , saving cost immediately (almost!)